Steelers/NFL category, Page 267
First Call: Predicted landing spot for JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency; Antonio Brown flips on Tom Brady again
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a possible free agent landing spot for JuJu Smith-Schuster. Ray-Ray McCloud is angling for a new contract to stay in Pittsburgh. Antonio Brown is back to sniping at Tom Brady. Jarvis Landry is getting itchy in Cleveland. And a local college hockey team is preparing for...
Tim Benz: Plenty for Steelers to learn from outside candidates in general manager search
When Kevin Colbert leaves his post as Steelers general manager after this spring’s NFL Draft, he’ll leave behind a 22-year legacy of constructing teams that went to three Super Bowls, won two Vince Lombardi trophies and qualified for the playoffs 14 times. He’ll also leave behind a legacy of essentially...
Brian Flores’ journey to joining Steelers’ coaching staff ‘happened very fast’
Brian Flores wasn’t expecting to get a job offer to coach linebackers for the Pittsburgh Steelers when he placed a call to head coach Mike Tomlin late last week. He was merely seeking advice on how to get back into the coaching profession after filing a class-action lawsuit against the...
Tim Benz: Of all the things Kevin Colbert discussed Monday, Stephon Tuitt’s status may be the most pressing
Outgoing Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert held his annual offseason get-together with selected Steelers media members Tuesday. Many issues were discussed. The plans to replace him after he retires following the draft. The offseason gameplan about what will be done at quarterback to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. What...
First Call: NFL Scouting Combine ‘bubble boycott’ avoided; former Steelers QB cut in CFL; Penguins get no help from Flyers
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an update on that planned boycott of the NFL Scouting Combine. A former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback couldn’t cut it in the CFL. Troy Polamalu’s uncle gets a new gig coaching in the NFL. The Flyers can’t give the Penguins an assist. And one of Duquesne’s women’s...
Steelers hired Brian Flores to ‘help us win games,’ GM Kevin Colbert says
As evidenced by the decision to hire Brian Flores, the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t scared away by the former Miami Dolphins coach’s class-action lawsuit against the NFL, which claims racial discrimination in the league’s hiring practices. General manager Kevin Colbert, though, said the organization wasn’t making a statement by giving Flores...
Kevin Colbert: Mason Rudolph in line to be Steelers QB ‘if the season started today’
As they have historically, the Pittsburgh Steelers will take four quarterbacks to training camp in July. Aside from Mason Rudolph and most likely Dwayne Haskins, general manager Kevin Colbert doesn’t know the identity of the other two competitors and whether they will be a mix of veterans or rookies. He...
First Call: Ex-Steeler on Mason Rudolph, ‘He’s a backup’; college hoops coaches ignite skirmish; NFL Combine boycott?
Monday’s “First Call” features another former Pittsburgh Steeler doubting quarterback Mason Rudolph. There may be a boycott of the NFL scouting combine. A local NHL product hits a milestone. There was a fight between coaches in the Big Ten basketball ranks. And maybe Tampa Bay wasn’t all paradise for Tom...
Tim Benz: 3 goals the Steelers can meet by hiring Brian Flores
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to hire former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores as a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach attempts to address three things. Two of them appear to be about battles of perception. The other is about the battle to get the opposing team off the field without racking...
Kevin Colbert helping conduct interviews for his successor as Steelers general manager
Kevin Colbert isn’t exactly easing into his impending exit as Pittsburgh Steelers general manager. Colbert revealed Monday during an interview with reporters that he is involved with helping team president Art Rooney II find his successor. “Art and myself are conducting the interviews,” Colbert said. “Art hasn’t been through this...
Strong play down stretch makes Steelers’ decision tougher for free agent Ahkello Witherspoon
Unless he re-signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s possible Ahkello Witherspoon by the end of March will join a fourth NFL team over a 13-month span. The five-year NFL veteran cornerback was asked last month about his interest in putting down some roots with the Steelers. “I think I enjoyed...
Former WPIAL football stars playing waiting game in hopes of being selected in USFL Draft
T.J. Neal has taken a circuitous route in chasing his dreams of playing professional football, going from major-college programs to living in hotels as he bounced around indoor and spring leagues. The 28-year-old McKeesport native has toiled in obscurity while watching his former teammates at Illinois and Auburn shine in...
Former Dolphins coach Brian Flores hired by Steelers as senior defensive assistant
Brian Flores, who is suing the NFL and three of its teams over discrimination in the hiring process of head coaches, joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday as a senior defensive assistant in charge of linebackers. Fired after three seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Flores filed a...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Mitchell Trubisky is better option than Jameis Winston for Steelers
The Steelers’ quarterback debate has hit new heights — or lows, if you’ve got the proper perspective — with the re-introduction of Jameis Winston as the flavor du jour. God, I hate re-runs. Winston, most recently of New Orleans, will be a free agent March 16. The hype is thick...
Keep ’em? Let ’em walk? Making a case for each of the Steelers’ pending free agents
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a much better spot with the salary cap now than they were a year ago when they lost five starters to free agency. Ben Roethlisberger’s salary is off the books, and the league-wide cap is bloated as the revenue-sapping effects of covid diminish. The Steelers...
Steelers confirm 4 more candidates interviewed for GM job
Add four names to the list of candidates interviewed by the Pittsburgh Steelers to be the organization’s next general manager. The team’s verified Twitter account revealed Friday evening that Green Bay Packers co-director of player personnel John Wojciechowski, Indianapolis Colts college scouting director Morocco Brown, Carolina Panthers assistant GM Dan...
Mark Madden: Steelers current quarterbacks should get public support from T.J. Watt, Najee Harris
NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt spoke on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ succession plan at quarterback: “We’ll see what happens at the quarterback position. I trust the guys upstairs to be able to bring a guy in that can win us some games, and I’m going to do everything...
Steelers’ T.J. Watt confirms NFL fine, discloses allergy that resulted in emergency hospital escort from James Harrison
On a recent episode of Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” podcast, the newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year disclosed that he has a wicked tree nut allergy. Tree nuts include the likes of almonds, pecans, pistachios, walnuts and Brazil nuts. Among the incidents that the Steelers linebacker has encountered is...
First Call: Ryan Clark doubts Mason Rudolph; ex-Steelers assistant hired in Green Bay; Aaron Donald to keep playing?
Friday’s “First Call” has a less-than-optimistic opinion on the Steelers offense from one of the team’s former players. We have updates on the post-Super Bowl retirement talk surrounding Sean McVay and Penn Hills alum Aaron Donald. A former Steelers assistant may factor into the Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay....
After near-historic rookie season, Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth vows improvement in Year 2
Before taking the field of the Hall of Fame Game in August, Pat Freiermuth had been limited to four live football games over the previous 20 months. He would play in 21 over the ensuing 23 weeks. That’s almost as many as he played throughout the entirety of his career...
U mad, bro?: No Valentines this week, but lots of agitation about Steelers offensive line, quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett’s hands
My inbox this week was stuffed with plenty of emails about the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback conundrum. Offensive line concerns. Journalism lectures. Penguins negativity. And hamburger commercials. I didn’t get any Valentine’s Day e-cards though. That was sad. But in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, “U mad, bro?” is like a...
With the 2021 NFL season complete, Steelers have underwhelming public perception, expectations for 2022
When you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers compared to other NFL franchises, do these names pop into your head immediately? The Atlanta Falcons. The Washington Commanders. The Carolina Panthers. How about some other long-standing organizations with a history of winning Super Bowls that have fallen on hard times recently? Teams...
First Call: Huge local Super Bowl TV ratings; ESPN picks cities for 2 Steelers free agents, puts QB and CB in Pittsburgh
We’ve talked plenty about what the Steelers may or may not do on the trade market and at the draft. But what about free agency? ESPN has some guesses. They also have some suggestions for new homes for two current Steelers free agents. Pittsburgh was one of the best cities...
Steelers name Pat Meyer as new offensive line coach
For the second time in a week, the Pittsburgh Steelers filled an open position on their offensive coaching staff with a former Carolina Panthers assistant. On Tuesday, the Steelers announced the hiring of Pat Meyer as offensive line coach. On Feb. 8, the Steelers named Frisman Jackson their wide receivers...
Cameron Sutton evolved into every-down leader for Steelers in ‘21
Throughout his NFL career, Cameron Sutton has been the man who could do everything for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It wasn’t until Year 5, though, when Sutton did do everything for them, and on a full-time basis. Only one Steelers player (Terrell Edmunds) was on the field more often during the...
